What to look for in the top pros
The players who get the most airtime are, of course, the more successful ones. No network is going to waste valuable minutes on someone who's out of contention. Viewers want to watch the tournament being won and lost, so those players shooting the lowest scores are the ones you'll see most on TV.
Here's what to look for in some of the most prominent players.
* Tiger Woods: Look at his virtuosity in every aspect of the game. He has left no stone unturned in his pursuit of perfection. His stalking of Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 major wins is his driving force, providing his will to succeed.
* Phil Mickelson: With two major victories under his belt (as of this writing), look for Phil to take advantage of his precise short game and really focus on the majors for the rest of his career. He gives golf fans all over the country a role model they love to root for.
* Vijay Singh: The golf motor that never stops, his aggressive, tireless pursuit of a repeatable golf swing is legendary on the practice tee, and has him playing better than ever in his 40s.
* Ernie Els: The Big Easy has a golf swing that brings glimpses of the legendary Sam Snead, with a demeanor that is made for greatness in major championships. He'll be a great player for a long time.
* Annika Sorenstam: The lady supreme of the LPGA Tour, her record in terms of victories and winning percentage is better than anyone else's on any tour, man or woman. She has set the standard that the new blood of the next generation will aspire to.
* John Daly: The PGA Tour's science project — always evolving. Sometimes imagining what John is thinking on the golf course is hard. But John is still one of the biggest draws in the game. Why? Because he hits the ball the farthest. Deep down inside, that's what everyone wants to do.
* Sergio Garcia: He has an electric golf game that should produce a step up to the next level — victories in major championships. He drives the ball long and straight and has a wonderful short game. If he putts better when it counts, he'll move up in class.
* Michelle Wie: This young lady has the potential to do what Tiger Woods did on the PGA Tour. Michelle turned pro late in 2005. When her time comes — as I think it will, sooner or later — she could dominate on the LPGA Tour. She has more talent than anyone I've seen come up in a long time. It should be fun to watch her find her way to the top.
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